As if bus commuters didn’t have enough to deal with -- like enduring 45 minute delays at the Lincoln Tunnel on Thursday morning -- they encountered smoke when they got off the bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Port Authority officials warned commuters about a smoke condition in the terminal’s south wing in an alert. The smoke was causing “discomfort," the alert said. Officials tweeted that the smoke was caused by a minor fire in mechanical room that was extinguished. Passengers were directed to facility’s 8th Avenue exit until the smoke dissipates. Many commuters wondered why the Port Authority, the Bi-State agency that runs the facility, continued to allow passengers to be discharged in the build into an active smoke condition.

FDNY firefighters travel up the escalator towards the danger as they responded to a hazy smoke condition at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during this mornings rush hour. Commuters are seen riding down the escalator as the building was being evacuated. Photo by Brian Hester

An FDNY firefighter moves toward the danger responded to a hazy smoke condition at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during this mornings rush hour. Photo by Brian Hester

FDNY firefighters walk towards the danger as they responded to a hazy smoke condition at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during this mornings rush hour. The building was briefly evacuated. Photo by Brian Hester

An FDNY firefighter is seen responding to a heavy smoke condition at the Port Authority Bus Terminal during this mornings rush hour. Photo by Brian Hester